Thomas Frederick Augustus David (1899 - 1918)

Born 3 Jan 1899 in Warwick, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

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Biography

Thomas was born on 3 January 1899 in Warwick, Queensland, Australia. He was the son of David David and Florence Edith Chase. ^[1]

He attempted to enlist in the A.I.F. on 26 April 1916 at Moree, New South Wales, Australia, aged 18 years and 3 months. ^[2] At that time his occupation was as a Labourer. His postal address was given as care of Post Office, Moree, New South Wales, Australia. He was single and had a chest size of 31½". This application was rejected on 28 April 1916 by the A.I.F. recruiting depot at Narrabri, New South Wales, Australia for insufficient chest measurement.

He again applied for enlistment in the A.I.F. on 4 September 1916 at Warwick, Queensland, Australia at the age of 18 years and 8 months. ^[3] At that time his height was given as 5'4½", weight 116 lbs, fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His chest measurement was given as 33½" / 31" (inhale/exhale) and was no longer a basis for rejection. He had a mole on his right shoulder, a scar on his inner right knee and a scar on top of his right foot. He had 6/6 vision. His next of kin was given as his mother Florence, who was residing at Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia,

He was assigned to the 49th Battalion (Reference Number 2882A) which was originally formed on 27 February 1916 as part of an expansion of the all-volunteer Australian Imperial Force, which took place after the failed Gallipoli Campaign, during the First World War. The battalion fought along the Western Front between mid-1916 and late 1918, before being disbanded in early 1919.

Thomas was initially shipped aboard the vessel A74 Marathon, embarking from Brisbane, Queensland on 27 October 1916 and, after being admitted to hospital aboard ship on 1 November 1916, disembarked for treatment in hospital on 9 November 1916 at Fremantle, Western Australia. He was discharged from hospital and embarked aboard the A28 Miltiades on 27 January 1917 and disembarked on 27 March 1917 at Devonport, Plymouth, England.

Initially the unit was barracked at Codford, Wiltshire, England, until being assigned to reinforce the 51st Battalion, embarking from Southhampton for France on 25 June 1917.

The 49th was assigned to join the 51st in the field on 13 July 1917. On 30 July 1917 the letter A was allotted to his regimental number.

He was wounded in battle on 17 October 1917, treated in hospital at Rouen, France until discharge on 30 October 1917 when he was marched out to Le Havre, France. He went AWOL for at least one day in Le Havre on 3 November 1917 in Le Havre and was fined from his pay.

He rejoined his unit in the field on 27 November 1917.

On 20 January 1918 he was taken sick and back in hospital with the 13th A.F.A., suffering from muscle atrophy of his right arm. He was discharged from hospital on 21 January 1918 and rejoined his unit on 22 January 1918.

He was again admitted to hospital on 5 March 1918 with a septic toe. He was discharged from hospital and rejoined his unit in the field on 11 March 1918.

He became a casualty on 25 April 1918 as a result of being exposed to a poison gas shell. He was initially treated on 26 April 1918 by the 25th F.A. He passed away on 28 April 1918 in Rouen, France in the 6th General Hospital, a result of having received a lethal dose of gas from the gas shell. ^[4]

He was buried on 12 July 1918 at Saint Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Departement de la Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France. ^[5]

QLD BDM Records

Thomas Frederick Agustus David Event date: 03/01/1899 Event type: Birth registration QLD Birth Registration details: 1899/C/2710 Mother: Florence Edith Chase Father/parent: David David

Thomas David Event date: 28/04/1918 Event type: Death registration QLD Death Registration details: 1922/F/2112 Mother: Florence Edith Chase Father/parent: David David

Burial

Pvt Thomas David BIRTH : unknown DEATH : 28 Apr 1918 BURIAL : Saint Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen, Departement de la Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France PLOT : P. XI. H. 14B. MEMORIAL ID : 56261240 Gravesite Details Private, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Age: 19. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56261240/thomas-david

Military Service - Initial Application 26 April 1916

Title : David,Thomas Frederick; age 18 Contents date range : 1916 - 1916 Series number : MT1486/1 Control symbol : DAVID/THOMAS FREDERICK Citation : NAA: MT1486/1, DAVID/THOMAS FREDERICK Item ID : 6524475 Location : Melbourne Access status : Open Date of decision : 22 Jun 2010 Physical format : PAPER FILES AND DOCUMENTS (allocated at series level) Extent : 2 folios Records authority class number : 3885 Date registered : 11 Jun 2010 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=6524475&isAv=N

Military Service - Successful Application 4 September 1916

Title : David Thomas : SERN 2882 : POB Warwick QLD : POE Warwick QLD : NOK M David Florence Edith Contents date range : 1914 - 1920 Series number : B2455 Control symbol : DAVID T Citation : NAA: B2455, DAVID T Item ID : 3490154 Location : Canberra Access status : Open Date of decision : 12 Apr 2001 Physical format : PAPER FILES AND DOCUMENTS (allocated at series level) Records authority class number : 3891 Date registered : 22 Mar 1999 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3490154&isAv=N

Memorial

Australian War Museum, Canberra. Roll of Honor, Western Wall towards northern end under 49 Battalion listing.

Sources

1. ↑ QLD Birth Registration details: 1899/C/2710
2. ↑ National Archives Of Australia : https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=6524475&isAv=N
3. ↑ National Archives Of Australia : https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3490154&isAv=N
4. ↑ QLD Death Registration details: 1922/F/2112
5. ↑ Find-a-grave : https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56261240/thomas-david